Just launched: glasses that translate menus

Understand foreign language in seconds

Japanese phone operator NTT Docomo have just launched a Google Glass-style visor that will translate any menu or sign written in either Japanese, Chinese, English or Korean immediately.

Unveiled at the Ceatec trade show in Tokyo yesterday the device could prevent a whole host of problems caused by the language barrier. No more accidentally ordering dogs bollocks in Vietnam, sautéed guinea pig in Peru or octopus ice cream in Japan. Shame for some we know.

The glasses are still at the prototype stage, but should be ready for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

The glasses will also be able to turn flat surfaces into touch screens and identify people through face recognition so long as there’s Wi-Fi around. It connects to your apps and your smartphone directory will be able to look up your target’s job and even tell you more about their identity. Trumps that Google Translate app you have, hey?

The Ceatac Trade Show is an annual event in Tokyo that showcases the maddest and most recent developments in the technology world.